Interlocking Stackable Produce Containers And High-Density Packing System Using Same

ABSTRACT

A container for produce adapted to house interlock with a lower and/or upper container while stacked. The produce containers have interlocking features such that the likelihood of lateral motion of a stacked container is greatly reduced. In some aspects, containers of different volumes may be adapted to stack together and interlock. The containers may have a plurality of vents.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/657,892 to Baum, filed Jun. 11, 2012.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to containers, and more specifically to produce containers and a system of packing using produce containers.

2. Description of Related Art

Today, many produce products are both harvested and packaged in the field. These produce products include, but are not limited to, berries, grapes, tomatoes, mushrooms, and other fruits and vegetables.

The produce is often packed into ventilated containers that will be purchased by the end consumer. The containers are typically thin walled clear or semi-clear plastic and are referred to as clamshells. This may be because often the lid of the container is formed integrally to the main volume of the container and the open container gives a visual suggestion of an open clamshell. The clamshells are closed after they have been filled with the produce.

The clamshells are also adapted to facilitate the initial cooling of the produce. To this end, the clamshells have openings in various locations which allow for forced air cooling to flow through the closed clamshell and cool the produce. The clamshells are also typically placed into trays, typically made of cardboard. The trays may also have openings in various locations to facilitate the cooling air flow through the clamshells.

Currently, there are a variety of sizes of trays that may be used for different types of produce, with the different trays adapted to hold differing numbers of different size clamshells, depending upon the produce type and the intended market. However, many large retailers stack the produce containers onto refrigerated shelves.

What is called for is a system that allows for produce containers to interlock such that they are not susceptible to being knocked off of each other when stacked, such as in a retail display context.

SUMMARY

A container for produce adapted to house interlock with a lower and/or upper container while stacked. The produce containers have interlocking features such that the likelihood of lateral motion of a stacked container is greatly reduced. In some aspects, containers of different volumes may be adapted to stack together and interlock. The containers may have a plurality of vents.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a perspective view of the outside of a produce carrying container according to some embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 1B is a perspective view of the inside of a produce carrying container according to some embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 2A is a front view of a closed large produce carrying container according to some embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 2B is a side view of a closed produce carrying container according to some embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a top view of an open produce carrying container according to some embodiments of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1A is a perspective view of the outer surfaces of a large produce carrying container 100 according to some embodiments of the present invention. FIG. 1B is a perspective view of the inner surfaces of a large produce carrying container 100 according to some embodiments of the present invention. The produce carrying container 100 may be of unitary construction, that is, constructed into a single piece. The container 100 consists of a top 101 and bottom 102. The top 101 of the container 100 may be folded over and clasped using button locks which have a button 103 on the top 101 of the container 100 and a button receptacle 104 on the bottom well 102 of the container. The button locks are typically a round extrusion on one side and a mating recess on the mating piece that lock with a mild interference fit. The button locks are adapted to be locked with relatively minor force, and to be unlocked with similar force. The container 10 is substantially rectangular in nature, and has a long side 105 and a short side 106. The container is hinged with a hinge 107.

As seen in FIGS. 2A and 2B, a plurality of front vents 110 and side vents 111 are formed along the top/bottom interface when the container 100 is closed. A portion of the vent is due to a recess in the top, and a portion of the vent is due to a recess in the bottom. The vents allow for a significant cross-directional flow of air through the container 100.

In some embodiments, a first container 100 is adapted to be stacked onto a second container 100. The top 101 may have a feature 121 on each corner adapted to interlock with a mating feature 120 on each corner of the bottom 102 when containers are stacked onto each other. A first interlocking feature may protrude up out of the top. A second interlocking feature may protrude down out of the bottom of the bottom well.

The interlocking features may each be of a right angle construction such that a first portion of the feature is along a first direction, and a second portion of the feature is along a second perpendicular direction. For example, the first and second portions may each parallel a different side of the rectangular container. With the use of these right angle features at each corner, good and sufficient interlocking may be achieved such that a stack of the containers will remain stable even when subjected to some lateral forces.

As evident from the above description, a wide variety of embodiments may be configured from the description given herein and additional advantages and modifications will readily occur to those skilled in the art. The invention in its broader aspects is, therefore, not limited to the specific details and illustrative examples shown and described. Accordingly, departures from such details may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the applicant's general invention. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A produce carrying container comprising: a bottom well, said bottom well substantially rectangular; a top, said top comprising a raised internal portion, said top bendably attached to said bottom well along a first edge, said top adapted to be folded over said bottom well into a closed position; a plurality of first stacking positioners on the top surface of said top; and a plurality of second stacking positioners on the bottom surface of said bottom well, wherein said first stacking positioners are sized such that they interlock with said second stacking positioners to provide lateral gripping between stacked produce carrying containers.
 2. The produce carrying container of claim 1 wherein said first stacking positioners comprise features raised above the top surface of said top.
 3. The produce carrying container of claim 2 wherein said second stacking positioners comprise features extending from the bottom of said bottom well.
 4. The produce carrying container of claim 1 wherein said plurality of first stacking positioners comprise a stacking positioner at each corner of said top.
 5. The produce carrying container of claim 4 wherein said plurality of first stacking positioners comprise a stacking positioner at each corner of said bottom well.
 6. The produce carrying container of claim 3 wherein said plurality of first stacking positioners comprise a stacking positioner at each corner of said top.
 7. The produce carrying container of claim 6 wherein said plurality of first stacking positioners comprise a stacking positioner at each corner of said bottom well.
 8. The produce carrying container of claim 7 wherein said first stacking positioners comprise a raised feature, said raised feature comprising a first raised portion and a second raised portion, said first raised portion perpendicular to said second raised portion.
 9. The produce carrying container of claim 8 wherein said second stacking positioners comprise a raised feature, said raised feature comprising a first raised portion and a second raised portion, said first raised portion perpendicular to said second raised portion. 